Shifting-bar for sleighs



(NoModeL) A. T. MODONEL.

SHIFTING BAR FOR SLEIGHS'.

. No. 387,896.- Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT tries.

ALEXANDER T. MODONEL, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

SHIFTING-BAR FOR SLEIGHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,896, dated August14, 1888.

Application filed December 12, 1887. Serial No. 257,044. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER T. llIU- DONEL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShifting-Bars for Cutters, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shifting-barsfor cutters; and the invention consists in the peculiar arrange ment andconstruction of parts, all more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is a planshowing my device in connection with the shafts arranged to bring thehorse in front of one of the runners. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewshowing the device arranged in connection with a pole.

A represents the runners of a sleigh or cutter, the forward ends ofwhich are connected by the cross-bar B, as usually employed inconnection with cutters to attach the draft devices thereto. To thiscross-bar are secured the draft-irons or brackets O O, preferably madeornamental in design and bolted at their rear end to the cross-bar andprovided at the forward end with an eye. Into the eyes of these draftirons slidingly engages the coupling-rod D, which I preferably make ofround and polished steel,fittingsnugly into the eyes of the draft-irons.

E are the usual eyes formed at the end of the thill or poleirons forsecuring them to the sleigh or cutter,and one of these eyes is sleevedupon one end of the coupling-rod D, while the other eye is attachedthereon, preferably, by forming a pin, (1, upon the end of thecoupling-rod of sufficient length to engage through the eye and receivea screw-nut upon its free end to secure the eye in place. I preferablyform on this end of the coupling-rod a slightlytapering head, I), forthe purpose of seating the end of the coupling-rod firmly into the eyeof the draft-iron 0 when adjusted as shown in Fig. 1. This constructionprevents any possibility of a loose play or rattling of the coupling-rodwhen in such position.

F is a U-shaped spring secured to the cross bar B and adapted to presswith its free end against the coupling-rod D for the purpose ofpreventing any accidental displacement of the coupling-rod from itsadjusted position, and, if desired, a notch may be formed in thecoupling-rod D, into which the free end of the spring engages to hold itmore firmly in its adjusted position.

In practice, it will be seen that by sliding the rod D the draft may beapplied either in the center. of the cutter or to one side thereof, andif it is desired to exchange the shafts for a pole it is but a triflingwork to do so. Thus the rod D acts as a combined coupling and shiftingrod or bar.

Instead of one spring, F, there may be two springs used, both arranged,preferably, close to the draft-irons O, which position prevents rattlingof the bar. It will be seen that my device is light and graceful, andcan be made a very pleasing ornament by constructing it of polishedmetal, nickel-platcd,or otherwise.

lVhat I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, with the cross barconnecting the runners, and the draft-eyes secured thereto and providedwith eyes in their free ends, of a combined shifting and coupling rodengaging into the eyes of the draft'irons and into the coupling-eyes ofthe shafts, and formed with a notch, as shown, the means for detachablysecuring one of said coupling-eyes to one end of said coupling, and alockingspring secured to the crossbar and engaging said notch to holdthe coupling-rod in its ad justed position, substantially as descriped.

2. The combination, in a shifting-bar for cutters, of the draft-irons 0,provided with eyes, the combined shifting and coupling rod D, slidinglyengaging into the eyes ofthedraftirons, the coupling-eyes E of theshafts'detachably engaging with said rod, and the nut a, and taperedhead b,for detaehabl y securing one of said eyes, and the spring F, allarranged to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnessesthis 24th day of October, 1887.

ALEXANDER T. MODONEL.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, P. M. HULBERT.

